Budget Message / Highlights - Metropolitan Water Reclamation ...

METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO
2009 BUDGET
quantitative microbial risk assessment and will also provide scientific data necessary to properly evaluate the actual
risk of illness and its correlation to indicator bacteria concentrations in the CAWs. This study has been modeled
after the methodology that USEPA utilizes to set water quality standards for coastal waters, but with a focus on
incidental contact and non-contact recreational uses. The project is being peer reviewed by a panel of
epidemiology, environmental health, microbiology, and water quality experts organized by the Water Environment
Research Foundation (WERF). The WERF review panel has issued a letter of endorsement of the qualifications of
the project team, the methodologies being deployed, and the quality of data being collected to date. The field
survey and sample collection phases of the study are scheduled to be completed by mid-2009 and the final study
report is scheduled to be completed in early 2010.
• Disinfection Technology Selection: The District formulated a Blue Ribbon Panel which consisted of Dr. Charles
Haas of Drexel University, Dr. Benito Marinas of the University of Illinois, and Dr. Kellog J. Schwab of Johns
Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health to evaluate and rank the suitability of all available
disinfection technologies for use at the District’s Stickney, Calumet, and North Side WRPs. The Blue Ribbon Panel
evaluated an array of technologies including chlorination, ultraviolet irradiation (UV), and ozonation. The panel
considered desirable performance requirements, qualitative economic requirements, indirect environmental and
public health impacts, and perception issues. The panel recommended that UV and ozonation be considered for
preliminary design and cost estimation.
• Preliminary Design and Cost Estimate for Effluent Disinfection: The District, through its consultant
CTE/AECOM Engineers, Inc., initiated a study of the preliminary design and cost estimation to add a unit process
for final effluent disinfection at the Stickney, Calumet, and North Side WRPs. This work was initiated in 2004 and
an engineering report was issued in 2005 with probable cost estimates. Probable cost estimates for UV disinfection
at the Stickney, Calumet, and North Side WRPs were as high as $2,153,000,000, if filtration is required, and
$963,000,000 if filtration is not required. Probable cost estimates for ozonation at the Stickney, Calumet, and North
Side WRPs were as high as $2,702,000,000, if filtration is required, and $1,511,000,000 if filtration is not required.
CTE/AECOM is now refining and updating these costs for the Stickney, Calumet, and North Side WRPs, and the
update will be completed in 2009.
• Pilot UV Technology Assessment: The District has designed a pilot scale technology assessment which it will
conduct at its Hanover Park WRP beginning in early 2009 to compare several UV technologies side-by-side and
evaluate efficacy, energy consumption, reliability, maintenance requirements, and select a preferred technology.
This information will be utilized to convert the current chlorine based disinfection systems at the Hanover Park,
Egan, and Kirie WRPs to UV based disinfection and to prepare for installation of UV disinfection at the Stickney,
Calumet, and North Side WRPs if required as a result of the UAA rulemaking.
• Evaluation of Technical Feasibility and Cost of End-of-Pipe Treatment of CSOs: In 2004, the District
undertook a study through its consultant CTE/AECOM of the feasibility and cost of treatment of 170 CSOs along
the NSC, NBCR, Chicago River, and South Branch Chicago River (SBCR). The study was completed in 2006, and
it was determined that primary treatment with subsequent UV disinfection could be provided for 105 of the 170
CSOs in the study area requiring 48 acres of land and would provide capacity to treat a total CSO volume of 2,009
million gallons per day. The estimated cost for these treatment facilities is $966,000,000.
• Comprehensive Ambient Water Quality Monitoring (AWQM) Program: Water chemistry has been assessed
monthly, bimonthly or semi-annually at 59 stations, including 28 stations within the CAWs, since 2001. In
addition, fish, benthic invertebrate, and physical habitat data have been collected annually at eight of these CAWs
stations and on a four-year revolving basis at the other 20 stations. Sediment chemistry and toxicity has been
measured at each station once every four years since 2001, as well. A majority of the data IEPA relied upon during
the UAA process and included in the UAA Report was collected as part of the AWQM Program and was furnished
by the District.
• Continuous Dissolved Oxygen Monitoring Program: The District implemented a Continuous DO Monitoring
(CDOM) Program in 1998, which has since been expanded throughout the CAWs. Currently, 22 of the CDOM
stations are within the CAWs; nine in the Chicago River System and six in the Calumet River System. The
extensive hourly data generated by this program has allowed the District to better identify DO problems and
explore the effects of wet weather on this system. The data have also been provided to the IEPA for use in
promulgating water quality standards.
• Evaluation of Sidestream Elevated Pool Aeration (SEPA) Stations: The District is conducting field tests using
the SEPA Stations on the Calumet-Sag Channel to determine whether the stations can be operated to comply with
6
6